Elements of an Integrated Phenotyping System for Monitoring Crop Status at Canopy Level

Abstract

Great care is needed to obtain spectral data appropriate for phenotyping in a scientifically rigorous manner. This paper discusses the procedures and considerations necessary and also suggests important pre-processing and analytical steps leading to real-time, non-destructive assessment of crop biophysical characteristics. The system has three major components: (1) data-collection platforms (with a focus on backpack and tractor-mounted units) including specific instruments and their configurations; (2) data-collection and display software; and (3) standard products depicting crop-biophysical characteristics derived using a suite of models to transform the spectral data into accurate, reliable biophysical characteristics of crops, such as fraction of green vegetation, absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, leaf area index, biomass, chlorophyll content and gross primary production. This system streamlines systematic data acquisition, facilitates research, and provides useful products for agriculture.

Field Scanalyzer: An automated robotic field phenotyping platform for detailed crop monitoring

“…For example, hyperspectral imagers equipped on the Field Scanalyzer have to be set-up for exposure time before each run, according the ambient illumination. Whilst clear skies, or homogenous overcast are the best conditions for collecting spectral data (Rundquist et al 2014), variations could likely occur during a 2-3 h scan of a field. This runs the risk of generating under-or overexposed images that cannot be corrected for, particularly when it also occurs on the reflectance standard panel.…”

Assessment of Canopy Chlorophyll Content Retrieval in Maize and Soybean: Implications of Hysteresis on the Development of Generic Algorithms

“…Hyperspectral radiometers were mounted on an all-terrain sensor platform for canopy reflectance measurements [45,46]. A dual-fiber optic system with two inter-calibrated Ocean Optics USB2000 radiometers was used to collect radiometric data in the range 400 to 1100 nm with a spectral resolution of about 1.5 nm.…”

Efficiency of chlorophyll in gross primary productivity: A proof of concept and application in crops

“…Canopy reflectance was measured using hyperspectral radiometers mounted on an all-terrain sensor platform (Rundquist et al, 2004(Rundquist et al, , 2014. A dual-fiber optic system, with two inter-calibrated Ocean Optics USB2000 radiometers, was used to collect radiometric data in the range 400-1100 nm with a spectral resolution of about 1.5 nm.…”